Photos: Arizona State football vs. Michigan State

Arizona State head coach Herm Edwards against Michigan State in the second half on Sep. 8, 2018, at Sun Devil Stadium.
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Photos: Arizona State football vs. Michigan State

Arizona State quarterback Manny Wilkins reacts as the Devils prepares to kick the game winning field goal against Michigan State in the second half on Sep. 8, 2018, at Sun Devil Stadium.
Rob Schumacher/The Republic

Photos: Arizona State football vs. Michigan State

Arizona State head coach Herm Edwards against Michigan State in the second half on Sep. 8, 2018, at Sun Devil Stadium.
Rob Schumacher/The Republic

Photos: Arizona State football vs. Michigan State

Michigan State's Brian Lewerke lies on the ground after being sacked against Arizona State in the 4th quarter on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018, at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. Arizona State won, 16-13.
Sean Logan/The Republic

Photos: Arizona State football vs. Michigan State

Arizona State celebrates after Brandon Ruiz kicked the game-winning field goal against Michigan State in the 4th quarter on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018, at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. Arizona State won, 16-13.
Sean Logan/The Republic

Photos: Arizona State football vs. Michigan State

Arizona State Sun Devils place kicker Brandon Ruiz (1) kicks the game-winning field goal as time expires against Michigan State at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. on Sept. 8, 2018.
Patrick Breen/The Republic

Photos: Arizona State football vs. Michigan State

Arizona State Sun Devils place kicker Brandon Ruiz (1) kicks the game-winning field goal as time expires against Michigan State at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. on Sept. 8, 2018.
Patrick Breen/The Republic

Photos: Arizona State football vs. Michigan State

Arizona State rushes the field after winning the game against Michigan State during the second quarter at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. on Sept. 8, 2018.
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Photos: Arizona State football vs. Michigan State

Arizona State wide receiver N'Keal Harry dives for the ball against Michigan State in the second half on Sep. 8, 2018, at Sun Devil Stadium.
Rob Schumacher/The Republic

Photos: Arizona State football vs. Michigan State

Arizona State running back Eno Benjamin (3) runs for a first down against Michigan State in the second half on Sep. 8, 2018, at Sun Devil Stadium.
Rob Schumacher/The Republic

Photos: Arizona State football vs. Michigan State

Arizona State quarterback Manny Wilkins runs out of the pocket against Michigan State in the second half on Sep. 8, 2018, at Sun Devil Stadium.
Rob Schumacher/The Republic

Photos: Arizona State football vs. Michigan State

Arizona State quarterback Manny Wilkins reacts as the Devils prepares to kick the game winning field goal against Michigan State in the second half on Sep. 8, 2018, at Sun Devil Stadium.
Rob Schumacher/The Republic

Photos: Arizona State football vs. Michigan State

ASU fans cheer on their team during the third quarter at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. on Sept. 8, 2018.
Patrick Breen/The Republic

Photos: Arizona State football vs. Michigan State

ASU fans cheer on their team during the third quarter at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. on Sept. 8, 2018.
Patrick Breen/The Republic

Photos: Arizona State football vs. Michigan State

Arizona State's linebackers coach Antonio Pierce greets the defense after a stop against Michigan State during the second quarter at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. on Sept. 8, 2018.
Patrick Breen/The Republic

Photos: Arizona State football vs. Michigan State

ASU's head coach Herm Edwards watches his team play during the third quarter against Michigan State at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. on Sept. 8, 2018.
Patrick Breen/The Republic

Photos: Arizona State football vs. Michigan State

Arizona State Sun Devils wide receiver N'Keal Harry (1) dives but is unable to bring in a ball against Michigan State's Justin Layne (2) during the second quarter at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. on Sept. 8, 2018.
Patrick Breen/The Republic

Photos: Arizona State football vs. Michigan State

Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio yells linebacker Joe Bachie against Arizona State in the first half on Sep. 8, 2018, at Sun Devil Stadium.
Rob Schumacher/The Republic

Photos: Arizona State football vs. Michigan State

Arizona State Sun Devils wide receiver N'Keal Harry (1) runs with the ball against Michigan State during the first quarter at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. on Sept. 8, 2018.
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Photos: Arizona State football vs. Michigan State

Arizona State Sun Devils wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (2) runs with the ball against Michigan State during the first quarter at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. on Sept. 8, 2018.
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Photos: Arizona State football vs. Michigan State

Arizona State Sun Devils defensive lineman Shannon Forman (97) tries to pump up the crowd against Michigan State during the first quarter at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. on Sept. 8, 2018.
Patrick Breen/The Republic

Photos: Arizona State football vs. Michigan State

ASU fans chant to have Michigan State fans removed from student section during the second quarter at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. on Sept. 8, 2018.
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Photos: Arizona State football vs. Michigan State

Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Manny Wilkins (5) looks for receivers against Michigan State during the second quarter at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. on Sept. 8, 2018.
Patrick Breen/The Republic

Photos: Arizona State football vs. Michigan State

Arizona State Sun Devils defensive back Darien Butler (37) forces a throw from Michigan State's Brian Lewerke (14) resulting in an interception during the second quarter at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. on Sept. 8, 2018.
Patrick Breen/The Republic

Photos: Arizona State football vs. Michigan State

Arizona State Sun Devils defensive back Darien Butler (37) forces a throw from Michigan State's Brian Lewerke (14) resulting in an interception during the second quarter at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. on Sept. 8, 2018.
Patrick Breen/The Republic

Photos: Arizona State football vs. Michigan State

Arizona State Sun Devils defensive back Demonte King (28) celebrates with Arizona State Sun Devils defensive back Dasmond Tautalatasi (30) after Tautalatasi made an interception in the end zone during the second quarter at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. on Sept. 8, 2018.
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Photos: Arizona State football vs. Michigan State

Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Manny Wilkins (5) throws a pass under pressure from Michigan State during the second quarter at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. on Sept. 8, 2018.
Patrick Breen/The Republic

Photos: Arizona State football vs. Michigan State

Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Manny Wilkins (5) throws a pass under pressure from Michigan State during the second quarter at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. on Sept. 8, 2018.
Patrick Breen/The Republic

Photos: Arizona State football vs. Michigan State

Photos: Arizona State football vs. Michigan State

Arizona State quarterback Manny Wilkinsis stopped short fourth down by Michigan State defensive tackle Raequan Williams in the first half on Sep. 8, 2018, at Sun Devil Stadium.
Rob Schumacher/The Republic

Photos: Arizona State football vs. Michigan State

Arizona State linebacker Darien Butler pressures the pass by Michigan State quarterback Brian Lewerke in the first half on Sep. 8, 2018, at Sun Devil Stadium.
Rob Schumacher/The Republic

Photos: Arizona State football vs. Michigan State

Photos: Arizona State football vs. Michigan State

Arizona State's Frank Darby tries to make a catch but is broken up by Michigan State's Josh Butler in the 3rd quarter on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018, at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz.
Sean Logan/The Republic

It’s not even mid-September. Both games were at home. One was against a hyphenated school, Texas-San Antonio, that started playing football in 2011. And the other came against a Big Ten team, Michigan State, that learned firsthand why Valley resorts offer steep discounts this time of year.

It's hot.

So the Sun Devils and their fans should control expectations by taking the maximum daily adult dosage of sensibility.

That said, how the Sun Devils won their first two games suggests they could surprise nearly everyone but themselves this season.

A young defense that was supposed to struggle has played well, and an offense that was supposed to put the team on its shoulders early has yet to carry its own weight for an entire game.

“We’ve messed up a lot of stuff up the first two ball games,” offensive coordinator Rob Likens said, “but we cover it up with effort.”

The Sun Devils scored 49 points against Texas-San Antonio, but they went nearly 23 minutes without scoring in the first half. They scored only 16 against Michigan State, because they couldn't run the ball and quarterback Manny Wilkins and his receivers failed to connect on several deep throws.

Wilkins missed on his first five passes of the fourth quarter, then completed 4 of 7, including a touchdown to N’Keal Harry and two critical throws that helped set up the winning field goal.

It showed the value of having a senior quarterback and a receiver as talented as any in the country. Given their history, that combination should click more as the season progresses.

Beginning with the Washington game at the end of the 2016 season, ASU has scored on 62 consecutive possessions in the red zone, according to its media relations department.

More impressive, the Sun Devils scored 49 touchdowns on those possessions. That’s 79 percent of the time.

During that streak, Wilkins completed 42 of 62 passes (67.7 percent) for 342 yards, 19 touchdowns and no interceptions.

So there is a reason Harry and others believe the offense will improve.

“We know what we can be and how much potential we have,” Harry said. “We just need to put it all together and we will put it all together within these next couple games.”

Saturday at San Diego State would be the opportune time to do that, because ASU goes to Washington the following week and has consecutive games against Stanford, USC and Utah beginning in mid-October.

Maybe too much was expected of this offense early. There is a learning curve on that side of the ball, too. Likens is in his first year as coordinator and he’s working for a new boss, Herm Edwards.

Communication between coordinator and head coach can be full of glitches at first, but Likens said that part has been almost seamless so far.

“Some coaches will tell you, ‘I hired you, I trust you,’ then the first sign of trouble, it’s like a bomb goes off,” Likens said. “But Herm, he is so true to his word. He’s calm. He’ll get on (the headset) between series and say, ‘What do you think about this? I think they’re doing this.’

It’s a good balance for Likens, who tends to be the excitable type. Wilkins is, too, said Likens, but the quarterback hides it better.

“I tell him, ‘I can act like an idiot, you can’t. You have to go play the next play,’ ” Likens said. “We’re so similar, competitive, and we get so angry. Every play is life and death. He’s hard on himself. He expects great things out of himself, which is what makes him good.”

After each of the first two games, Wilkins was critical of himself for errant throws and bad reads. That was especially true after the Michigan State game because Wilkins felt the Sun Devils should have taken better advantage of man coverage on receivers.

“I don’t think I played nearly as good as I could have played,” Wilkins said.